Review – Annie, Festival Theatre, Malvern, until Saturday, October 24, 2009.

FIRST class family entertainment as always because this is one of those happy ending musicals that appeals to all ages and which itself continues to show no sign of ageing.

There are a number of outstanding performances in a well-drilled cast who, from the excellent Oliver Warbucks (David McAllister) - right down to the tiniest orphan, are a great credit to all the production team.

It’s got the aaahh and the ooohh factor in abundance, and it’s also got the great drive and comic timing of the splendid Sue Pollard who plays Miss Hannigan, the hard-hearted, hard-drinking custodian of a New York orphanage, with that delightful dizziness which has characterised any number of her previous roles both on television and the stage.

The part of Annie is shared between Grace Glevey and Lydia Tunstall, with the latter on for the opening night and giving a performance well beyond her tender years.

A thoroughly enjoyable performance.

And more enjoyment is on the way especially with a week of opera from Monday, October 26, and then the outstanding Cabaret, starring Wayne Sleep, will be making a most welcome return for a week from November 9.

AJW.